Galaxy Hold SA Giants
Kabelo Boranabi | Monday July 22, 2019 12:12
Galaxy’s coach, Miguel da Costa left the game an impressed man after his charges held the African champions in the high profile encounter.
“This is a preseason we have been training for a week and a half now. It was never going to be easy playing a tough team like Sundowns. We conceded very early because we were a bit shaky in the first minutes. But after the goal, we came back into the game. I think we dominated the last minutes of the first half but it was a very good game,” da Costa journalists after the game.
He, however cheekily sent a warning to league rivals. “My targets are the same. I don’t want to speak about them because we are still in preseason. But I bet everyone knows my targets. They have always been the same. We have a very good squad. Today we showed what we could offer by playing to a draw against Sundowns.”
Da Costa gave two of his signings, Bakang Leshona and Takunda Sadiki places in the starting line up while Sundowns’ new Uruguayan recruit, Mauricio Afonso led the South African league champions’ attack. The visitors dominated the proceedings in the early stages and were rightly rewarded just eight minutes into the game.
Phakamani Mahlambi tapped into an empty net after Anthony Gouws parried Tebogo Langerman’s initial shot back into the play. Galaxy nearly levelled just five minutes later, but Moagi Sechele’s shot was blocked. Downs dominated the game but were wasteful in front of goals with Afonso being the culprit as they held the 1-0 lead into the break.
Both sides made an overhaul of changes at break and it seemed to pay off for the hosts. On the 79th minute, substitutes Letlhogonolo Chenjela and Mutanda Bashir combined well to give their side an equaliser. Chenjela played an enterprising ball for the Ugandan who beat the keeper to far post with a low driven shot. On the other hand, Jeremy Brockie shot straight into the keeper’s hands from a tight angle as the team settled for a draw in the afternoon.
Sundowns were in the country over the weekend as part of their preseason tour. They played two games against Galaxy and newly-promoted Morupule Wanderers. The former African champions however travelled without head coach Pitso Mosimane with Manqoba Mngqithi in charge of the two games.
The Teams:
Galaxy: Gouws, Thabo Leinanyane, Gofaone Molapi, Fortunate Thulare, Sechele, Lebogang Ditsele, Kutlwelo Mpolokang, Atisang Batsi, Leshona, Sadiki, Patrick Kaunda
Sundowns: Kennedy Mweene, Thapelo Morena, Musa Lebusa, Langerman, Rivaldo Coetzee, Andile Jali, Mahlambi, Wayne Arendse, Mauricio Afonso, Sphele Mkhulise, Keletso Makgalwa
Galaxy 1 (Bashir 79th)
Sundowns 1 (Mahlambi eighth)